Malaysia, a melting pot of cultures, offers a gastronomic paradise to food lovers. With influences from Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines, Malaysian food is a symphony of flavours and textures. Here are the top 30 foods you must try when in Malaysia.
Nasi Lemak
Among these 30 foods in Malaysia, Nasi Lemak often referred to as the national dish of Malaysia, Nasi Lemak is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. It’s traditionally served with a spicy sambal, anchovies, peanuts, and boiled egg.
Assam Laksa
A tangy, sour, and spicy fish-based noodle soup, Assam Laksa is a must-try for those who love a burst of flavours. It’s a delightful blend of spicy, sour, and sweet tastes.
Rendang
Rendang is a rich and tender coconut beef stew which is explosively flavourful. It’s a slow-cooked dish, often served during festive occasions.
Roti Jala
Roti Jala, also known as net bread, is a popular Malay tea time snack. It’s often served with curry dishes and is loved for its unique net-like formation.
Char Kway Teow
Char Kway Teow, or stir-fried ricecake strips, is a popular noodle dish in Malaysia. It’s typically stir-fried in pork fat with a mix of ingredients like prawns, cockles, and Chinese sausage.
Roti Canai
Roti Canai is an Indian-influenced flatbread that’s a popular breakfast dish in Malaysia. It’s often served with dhal or other types of curry.
Satay Chicken
Satay Chicken is a popular street food in Malaysia. It’s essentially grilled marinated skewered chicken served with a peanut dipping sauce.
Nasi Kerabu
Nasi Kerabu is a unique Malaysian dish where the rice is naturally coloured blue. It’s often served with fried chicken, crackers, pickles, and other sides.
Mee Goreng Mamak
Mee Goreng Mamak is a spicy fried noodle dish that’s commonly available at Indian Muslim food stalls in Malaysia. It’s a hearty dish with a mix of flavours.
Apam Balik
Apam Balik is a sweet Malaysian pancake filled with peanuts, sugar, and sometimes corn. It’s a popular street food and is especially loved by children.
Ayam Percik
Ayam Percik is a grilled or roasted chicken dish where the chicken is marinated in a mixture of spices and coconut milk. It’s a popular dish during the Ramadan period.
Nasi Kandar
Nasi Kandar is a popular northern Malaysian dish that originated from Penang. It’s a meal of steamed rice served with a variety of curries and side dishes.
Bak Kut Teh
Bak Kut Teh, which translates to ‘meat bone tea’, is a soup dish made from pork ribs and a variety of herbs and spices. It’s often eaten with rice and is loved for its hearty and comforting taste.
Hokkien Mee
Hokkien Mee is a dish that’s popular in Kuala Lumpur. It’s a dish of thick noodles stir-fried in a dark soy sauce with pork, squid, and cabbage.
Biryani
Biryani is a flavourful rice dish that’s cooked with a variety of spices and meat. It’s a popular dish among the Indian Muslim community in Malaysia.
Laksa
Laksa is a spicy noodle soup that’s a blend of Chinese and Malay cuisines. There are various types of Laksa, but the most popular ones are Curry Laksa and Asam Laksa.
Bubur Pulut Hitam
Bubur Pulut Hitam is a sweet dessert made from black glutinous rice. It’s often served with coconut milk and palm sugar.
Rojak
Rojak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly found in Malaysia. It’s a mix of flavours – sweet, spicy, and sour.
Sambal Udang
Sambal Udang is a spicy dish where prawns are cooked in a sambal sauce. It’s often served with rice.
Ikan Bakar
Ikan Bakar is a grilled fish dish where the fish is marinated in a variety of spices. It’s a popular dish in seafood restaurants in Malaysia.
Cendol
Cendol is a sweet dessert that contains droplets of green rice flour jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup. It’s a popular dessert to beat the heat in Malaysia.
Kuih-Muih
Kuih-Muih refers to a selection of sweet cakes and pastries that are popular in Malaysia. They come in various shapes, colours, and flavours.
Teh Tarik
Teh Tarik is a popular hot milk tea beverage which can be commonly found in restaurants, outdoor stalls and kopi tiams. Its name is derived from the pouring process of “pulling” the drink during preparation.
Otak-Otak
Otak-Otak is a grilled fish cake made of ground fish meat mixed with tapioca starch and spices. It’s usually served in banana leaves.
Keropok Lekor
Keropok Lekor is a traditional Malay fish cracker snack originated from the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. It’s a popular snack in coastal areas.
Murtabak
Murtabak is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread filled with a variety of ingredients like minced meat, garlic, egg, and onion. It’s often eaten with curry or pickled onions.
Popiah
Popiah is a type of fresh spring roll filled with a variety of ingredients like jicama, bean sprouts, lettuce, and grated carrots. It’s a popular snack in Malaysia.
Pisang Goreng
Pisang Goreng is a snack food made of banana or plantain, covered in batter or not, being deep fried in hot cooking oil, and is popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Ramly Burger
Among the myriad of foods in Malaysia, the Ramly Burger holds a special place in the hearts of locals. This street food staple, named after its creator, Ramly Mokni, is more than just a burger. It’s a unique concoction of a beef or chicken patty, enveloped in a thin layer of beaten egg, then topped with a variety of ingredients like cabbage, onions, and a special blend of sauces. The result is a mouth-watering, flavour-packed burger that’s beloved across the country. Whether enjoyed as a quick snack or a late-night treat, the Ramly Burger is a testament to Malaysia’s vibrant and diverse street food culture.
Soto
Soto is a traditional Indonesian soup mainly composed of broth, meat, and vegetables. Many traditional soups are called soto, whereas foreign and Western influenced soups are called sop.
From spicy curries to sweet desserts, Malaysia’s food scene is a testament to its rich cultural diversity. These 30 foods offer a glimpse into the Malaysia vibrant food culture, each telling a story of its heritage and traditions. Whether you’re a fan of spicy foods or have a sweet tooth, Malaysia’s food scene has something to satisfy every palate. So, embark on this culinary journey and savour the flavours of Malaysia.
